THE LIZARDS 191 



responded to the colors of objects over which they moved 

 or rested. The specimens were placed in separate cases, 

 all with a uniform amount of illumination. One of the 

 cases contained a branch of bright green leaves, another 

 a bunch of dark, leafless twigs ; in the third, a fine white 

 sand had been spread. The results were humorously 

 negative. All of the specimens assumed a shade of yel- 

 lowish brown, causing each to appear sharply defined 

 among its surroundings. And a number of experiments 

 in this direction went to show that the colors of chame- 

 leons have little to do with the hues of the reptiles' 

 surroundings. 



Excitement and fright bring marked results — usually 

 paler shades. Specimens in a sickly condition are often 

 splashed with pale hues ; ragged patches of green appear 

 which may give way to black immediatelj^ after death. 



One curious effect of sunlight and shadow was ob- 

 served. A specimen had been basking under a coarse 

 wire grating. Becoming frightened at the approach of 

 the writer, it changed its position. On the dark brown 

 body was what had been the shadow of the grating, 

 brilliantly imprinted in pale yellow. Within half a 

 minute this pattern had entirely faded. 



The common colors of captive chameleons are 

 grayish or yellowish-brown, green with irregular spots 

 and blotches or, when exposed to sunlight, brown with 

 rings of green or yellow. Few specimens exhibit a 

 definite pattern; obscure longitudinal bands, blotches 

 and ocelli come and go with the varying shades of the 

 body hue. 



